Motorola went ahead and befuddled everyone last month when it announced a small upgrade to its G5/G5 Plus with the newer G5S and G5S Plus, then revealed there were two versions: one for the US without NFC and one for Europe with NFC, and then clarified that only the Plus would come to the US. Now that day has come and the G5S Plus is up for pre-order in the US on several sites.

The price is reduced for a limited period of time (except on Frys): the 3GB/32GB version can be had for $229.99 instead of $279.99 and the 4GB/64GB version is down from $349.99 to $299.99.

As for what you're getting, the G5S Plus is an unlocked device that works on all carriers in the US. It has an all-metal unibody, a 5.5" 1080p display, a Snapdragon 625, dual 13MP rear cameras and an 8MP front shooter, a 3000mAh battery, a 3.5mm headset port, and a fingerprint sensor on the front. Decent specs overall, but keep in mind there's no NFC and the charging happens over MicroUSB. The good news is that it will get Oreo and its kernel source code has been released.

The G5S Plus comes in two colors, Lunar Grey and Blush Gold, and here are the pre-order links for the different retailers we could find it at:

Comments

Ugh...No NFC + MicroUSB for that price? It's a good phone, but those are deal breakers for me in late 2017 (mainly lack of NFC). I mean, $350 + tax for the 4/64GB version.

EnerJi

Agree completely. I'm looking for an upgrade from my thanks-to-Android-O-slow-as-molasses Nexus 5X, but not willing to give up NFC (and would prefer USB-C as well).

I'm still holding out hope for a super Pixel (2016) sale, which would be a very nice upgrade indeed if I could get it from the Google Store for, let's say, $500 or less.

Frank King

Even the 400$ MotoX4 would be a decent upgrade from the 5X..

EnerJi

I'm wondering how the X4 CPU and camera compare to the 5X. Besides that, the extra RAM would definitely be an improvement, but I fear that 3GB of RAM will feel like too little within the 2+ years I hope to keep the phone.

In other words, I'm not sure if the X4 is "enough" of an upgrade, but I'm waiting for reviews and comparisons to come out to confirm.

John Doe

Will it get Android O and P?

MJ

No

ProductFRED

The article says it will get Android Oreo. However, Motorola themselves said the G series typically gets 1 major update, so yes to O and no to P if we go by their statement.

MJ

Yes so? That's not Android O AND P. Regardless, I wouldn't assume any $230 phone will get any update.

ProductFRED

The article literally says it will get Android Oreo.

MJ

What? Can one just point out this article if they don't get any Android update? Again, assume ZERO updates if you buy a cheap phone to avoid disappointment.

P.S. The OP was really asking if it will get Android P which is what I was answering.

John Doe

Until they have another advertisement slip up

caroline eadie

They definitely give 1 update

MJ

Sigh... Yeah probably, I think my statement was self explanatory.

elchuby

I'm pretty confident it will get official Lineage OS support at some point.

caroline eadie

It'll get o but don't expect anything more

iKon

The front of Moto phones are so ugly.

Fred

*the first 3 words are optional

keithzg

They used to be beautiful! Frickin' Lenovo, I tells ya . . .

MJ

OK... What about the US release date for the Moto G5V Plus+?

Scott Zupek

Seriously, camera bump and glass screens are not acceptable anymore. Ceramic front or scratchless plastic. Im not losing 1k because I drop my phone and Im not wrapping a pretty phone ins 3 inches of rubber. Find a better solution.

Benjamin Kitt

You're not losing 1k if you drop your $230 phone.

h4rr4r

What phone has a ceramic front? What the hell is scratchless plastic?

Gordon Spurgeon Spooner

With the kernel source code out, it's very likely this will get official LineageOS support, and more updates from Lineage than from Motorola.

If NFC and USB-C aren't mandatory for you, I think this is a great buy.

h4rr4r

Is the bootloader unlockable?

Gordon Spurgeon Spooner

I'm fairly certain it is. I got a carrier branded Moto E4 from a third tier MVNO, and I was delighted to find out that it's bootloader was unlockable.

I'm pretty sure Moto is making almost all of their new phones unlockable... it's just the Verizon specific models that can't be unlocked.

A Person

Yes, but you have to generate an unlock code through their site, so they are aware it has been unlocked and that typically voids your warranty, even if you re-lock it.

h4rr4r

How is it legal to void a hardware warranty over a software change. I would think the moss-magnuson act would prevent such chicanery.

atlouiedog

I've seen people say they've gotten warranty repairs on bootloader unlocked phones from moto so maybe they know they can't enforce it or are just trying to scare people off doing anything dumb, or even just discourage them from trying to file a claim.

keithzg

Companies tend to try to overreach, since there's only really penalties from staying to firm on non-legal stipulations, not on having tried to make them in the first place. See also: EULAs.

Stu

The discounted prices are fine, but I don't think this is worth full asking. A metal body and an extra camera that probably isn't great doesn't justify the price bump vs the regular G phones. They could have saved these "upgrades" for the G6 line next year (and throw in NFC + Type C while they're at it).

caroline eadie

I have the g4 plus and the camera really isn't bad I have some excellent photo's with the g4 plus camera

Michael2011

I'm sure they're doing all that for the G6. Incremental upgrades means sales!

Phrozen2nd

I'm pretty sure the Best Buy links are for the original Moto G5 and G5 plus, not the G5S versions.

Ron johnson

Why would they have NFC in Europe, but not in the US? That makes no sense to me! I would suggest this for my girlfriend, but no NFC is a no go these days!

EnerJi

Yeah, it's weird. Only thing I can think of is their data shows higher NFC usage in Europe than in the US? I would like to use NFC for payment far more than I do, but too many stores I shop in haven't upgraded their point-of-service terminals yet...

Ron johnson

I use it all the time, but I have a galaxy s8+, so I can use Samsung pay. You can use that almost everywhere. Because of that alone, I will stick with Samsung, but my GF doesn't need such an elaborate phone. It would be nice to get her something like the G5+ if it had NFC so she could at least use android pay.

Michael2011

I had NFC for years and only used Android Pay as a novelty on a handful of times since my wallet is always on me when I'm out and about.

I don't know anyone who uses NFC payment on a REGULAR basis.

EnerJi

I would use it for all my small purchases if only it were supported at more stores. I find it much more convenient than taking out my wallet, taking out my CC, inserting it, holding my wallet while waiting for authorization, removing the CC, then putting everything back.

Michael2011

It took me the same amount of time to examine the reader for NFC compatibility, take my phone out of my pocket, unlock it (I dont use biometrics), and hold the phone up to the reader.

It takes even longer when the reader IS compatible but the store doesn't support it yet and the clerks don't know WTF is going on.

EnerJi

I agree, that's an issue. Your first and last issue is all wrapped up in my comment about if only Android Pay were supported in more stores...

daizyujin

Probably the same reason Sony disables the fingerprint reader...........of course who knows what the reason is..........I am just saying it is the same. (Disclosure: I don't know this but it sounded funny to me at the time.)

Presumably there's some patents or such that some company is flexing their legal team on, considering Sony does the same for the US market.

balcobomber25

Or they are just cheap.

keithzg

That's part of what I'm saying. But making multiple models likely loses them money, so merely saving money on components probably isn't it---there's probably some patent holder who's insisting their patents cover NFC in the US and Lenovo (and Sony) are just being too cheap to pay whatever is being asked.